Coal and Steel Commission

The Coal and Steel Community was an organization formed in 1951 to promote economic cooperation among six European countries—Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Its goal was to pool coal and steel industries, which are vital for war-making, to prevent future conflicts by making these resources mutually dependent. By sharing control over these industries, the countries aimed to foster peace, stability, and economic growth. This was the first step toward broader European integration, eventually leading to the European Union. The community laid the groundwork for closer political and economic cooperation among nations.